EH - Essex > Hebrides...the next step of the adventure?

foxgloves

Hope you managed to visit your Dad, @EssexHebridean.

I really need to give my bike a clean, check it over & get it back in use. I was using it quite regularly before lockdown, then stopped (stupidly) because I had much more regular access to the car. Your mentions of cycling keep reminding me about my nice bike sitting in the shed like a Billy-no-mates.
F

EssexHebridean

Ahh SSG I shall let Pippi know you were asking after her. She’s fine I’m pleased to say, and I know a lot of folk miss her posting here. We actually got to know one another through these forums in the first place, and now she’s one of my very best friends, even though living at opposite ends of the U.K. as we do we don’t get to see each other that often.

As for reading through to catch up on my diary I’m touched that anyone wants to - honestly, I’ve said numerous times to newer posters that the primary reason for a diary should be self-accountability- but it must be said it really is nice to know there are lovely folk reading, too! 

Delighted to say that I found my Dad looking far better and sounding much more cheerful today - whether he’ll ever be well enough to return home now is doubtful - he’d realistically need to be mobile enough and steady enough on his feet as well, and it seems unlikely that he’ll manage to regain that much strength now. They also still need to get him off the high flow oxygen and at the moment each time they try it leaves his sats dropping through the floor, so that’s another significant issue. He can’t have the level of oxygen he’s on currently at home, so that’s a real stumbling block. On the bright side though I stayed for a bit over an hour this afternoon and he didn’t seem unduly tired even after all that time chatting. 

Once again I was reminded how grateful we are to have such lovely neighbours too - I realised literally as I was going to get the bike out of the garage that of course my cycle helmet was still in MrEH’s car - I intended to bring it indoors when we got home last night but completely forgot. By this time it was too late for me to walk to the hospital, so figured I’d just have to use the longer traffic free route and do the ride that way. As I got to the garage our neighbour Owen was just going to his own garage to get his motorbike out, saw me without my helmet and offered me the loan of his. Very relieved as I really don’t like riding without one, even on the cycle paths. I’ll try to get somewhere to buy a basic second one for keeping with bike no.2 at some stage over the weekend.

Right - time to stick a camera battery on to charge for tomorrow,  are sure the cameras have memory cards in them, then get myself ready for bed I think. MrEH has headed off to the Rugby Club so goodness knows what time he’ll be home! 

savingholmes

Glad your Dad was brighter - and that you have a lovely neighbour

RelievedSheff

It's nice to have good neighbours. 

Glad your dad was feeling a bit better.

Sunshine_girl2

It's good to hear your dad is looking a bit better . I still tired after Covid but it's getting better , just glad it didn't leave me with anything else . 

Enjoy the air show this weekend . 

EssexHebridean

Thanks all - and SG2, I’m insanely grateful to have kept my sense of taste and smell, that was the main thing I was dreading as a symptom! 

RS and SH - we’re generally fortunate with neighbours aside annoyingly, from directly upstairs where we’ve had a lot of problems. The longer standing ones in the block though are most definitely friends as well as neighbours now! 

About to get myself ready to head off to Duxford just after 11 - I struggled to find out when the flying was planned to start but it now seems it’s most likely 1pm. It’s not going to be as busy as a full-on airshow so doesn’t need an early start, thank goodness!  Got a couple of pals going along as well - one who was at Shuttleworth last weekend and one I’ve not seen since last year so it’ll be good to catch up! 

Banks checked - all fine. A quick skim over the grocery spend suggests we’ll definitely be in under £160 for the month (need to make sure MrEH doesn’t trundle in somewhere today and buy stuff he thinks we need, mind you - well, unless he finds another 20p YS’d loaf, of course!) so I’m pretty happy with that. Might consider doing the grocery challenge for May once my months budget kicks in as a bit of extra accountability - unless anyone else is on a similar mission on here and fancies having a DFWers mini grocery challenge? 

Going to play tea tonight very much by ear - and a lot will depend on ripeness of avocados! My suspicion is that they’re going to still be rock hard. Should probably shove them in a bag with a banana… 

MisterPym

EssexHebridean said:

Ahh SSG I shall let Pippi know you were asking after her. She’s fine I’m pleased to say, and I know a lot of folk miss her posting here. We actually got to know one another through these forums in the first place, and now she’s one of my very best friends, even though living at opposite ends of the U.K. as we do we don’t get to see each other that often.

As for reading through to catch up on my diary I’m touched that anyone wants to - honestly, I’ve said numerous times to newer posters that the primary reason for a diary should be self-accountability- but it must be said it really is nice to know there are lovely folk reading, too! 

Delighted to say that I found my Dad looking far better and sounding much more cheerful today - whether he’ll ever be well enough to return home now is doubtful - he’d realistically need to be mobile enough and steady enough on his feet as well, and it seems unlikely that he’ll manage to regain that much strength now. They also still need to get him off the high flow oxygen and at the moment each time they try it leaves his sats dropping through the floor, so that’s another significant issue. He can’t have the level of oxygen he’s on currently at home, so that’s a real stumbling block. On the bright side though I stayed for a bit over an hour this afternoon and he didn’t seem unduly tired even after all that time chatting. 

Once again I was reminded how grateful we are to have such lovely neighbours too - I realised literally as I was going to get the bike out of the garage that of course my cycle helmet was still in MrEH’s car - I intended to bring it indoors when we got home last night but completely forgot. By this time it was too late for me to walk to the hospital, so figured I’d just have to use the longer traffic free route and do the ride that way. As I got to the garage our neighbour Owen was just going to his own garage to get his motorbike out, saw me without my helmet and offered me the loan of his. Very relieved as I really don’t like riding without one, even on the cycle paths. I’ll try to get somewhere to buy a basic second one for keeping with bike no.2 at some stage over the weekend.

Right - time to stick a camera battery on to charge for tomorrow,  are sure the cameras have memory cards in them, then get myself ready for bed I think. MrEH has headed off to the Rugby Club so goodness knows what time he’ll be home! 

I used to love following Pippi's diary (via lurking)Do you think she might return?

beanielou

So glad that you found your dad so cheery. 

It must be very difficult for you. 

It’s 10 years since my dad died. 

How time flies. 

foxgloves

Pleased to hear you found your Dad in better cheer, @EH. I well remember the herculean efforts it took to get my Dad out of hospital re the high oxygen need. 
Nice neighbours are so important, aren't they?We like our neighbours on both sides. We are all perfectly friendly & helpful, but we are not in each other's pockets & I like that as a balance.
I really dislike wearing a cycle helmet but I get such an ear-holing from Mr F if I go out without it because he's worried about me falling off. I know he's right, but I miss the breeze in my hair!
F

Staffordia

This flew over our garden earlier,  I assume it was from Duxford